Lefthander Dontrelle Willis left the Baltimore Orioles’ Class AAA affiliate without permission because he disagrees with the role in which he is being used, CBSSports.com reports.

Willis, signed to a minor league contract by the Orioles after being released by the Philadelphia Phillies during spring training, would like to start. However, he has been used in relief in three appearances at Class AAA Norfolk.

The Baltimore Sun reports the Orioles have no plans to release Willis, and general manager Dan Duquette told CBSSports.com that the organization will welcome Willis’ return.

Upon signing with the Orioles, Willis expressed a willingness to pitch in relief.

“The role is still the same,” Willis told The Baltimore Sun in late March. “So I’m definitely still getting used to coming out of the bullpen, but it seemed like their bullpen was already set for Philadelphia. It’s just another opportunity to go out there with another young, talented team and go out there and show my stuff.”

Willis was the 2003 NL Rookie of the Year with the then-Florida Marlins and was an All-Star in 2003 and 2005, when he led the league with 22 wins. Since going 12-12 with a 3.87 ERA in 2006, however, he is 14-30 with a 5.65 ERA in parts of five major league seasons with four major league franchises.

In 2011, Willis went 1-6 with a 5.00 ERA in 13 starts for the Cincinnati Reds.